Dream Nettie gets measured ride in La Puente

By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. - Dream Nettie won his stakes debut in Saturday's at Santa Anita under an ideal ride from jockey Joe Talamo.

Dream Nettie ($20) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.80, holding off a late run from Lucky Rave to win by three-quarters of a length. Bogie finished third in the field of eight 3-year-olds, closing from last to miss by 1 1/4 lengths.

Dream Nettie stalked pacesetter Ace of Aces, the 3-1 favorite, through early fractions of 25.12 and 50.22 seconds. Dream Nettie took the lead turning for home, and led by a head at the eighth pole.

Co-owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, William de Burgh, and George Todaro, Dream Nettie has won 3 of 9 starts and $107,880. A gelding by Dixie Union, Dream Nettie was third in an allowance race for 3-year-olds on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields on March 14.

The La Puente was Dream Nettie's first start over 1 1/8 miles.

"We have an improving horse," Hollendorfer said. "The more distance the better he looks."

Warren's Pepe continues to improve

Warren's Pepe, claimed for $12,500 at Del Mar last summer, won his first stakes in Saturday's $81,150 Santana Mile.

Ridden by Martin Pedroza, Warren's Pepe ($10.80) led throughout, holding off a late run from 9-5 favorite Slew's Tiznow to win by a half-length. Norvsky finished third in the field of five. Warren's Pepe set a pace of 24.27 and 47.53 seconds, leading by as much as 1 1/2 lengths through the stretch.

Warren's Pepe finished a mile in 1:35.44. A 6-year-old, Warren's Pepe has won 12 of 42 starts and $343,176.